Sociology

History of Trantor

Imperial Capital of Galactic Empire

 

Trantor, as capital of The Galactic Empire, enjoyed a peaceful rule for approximately 10,000 years. This is an amazing record in a human galaxy torn by strife. At the establishment of the Kamble Dynasty, Trantor enjoyed peace, and loyalty from all the worlds within her realm. None was loyal other than to Trantor. The Empire grew at a snail's pace, since Trantor entered a period of slow conquest which is believed to be the only explanation of her final Empire. The Emperors believed, rightly, that the only way to bring the many worlds of the galaxy within grasp was to court them, and to show them that Trantor needed them, rather than desired them. Worlds were quick to want a union that would bring them benefits, namely the high technology from Trantor, and the might of the Imperial Navy at their call, with which they could feel at ease from conquest.

Small worlds applied for membership with the Empire, as a stabilisation of government for them, as well as a means of defence. Large and powerful worlds saw the Empire as a means of free trade, and as a broadening of their   horizons with the galaxy at large. The common man wanted to be involved with the thick of things at the core of the Galaxy. Men of all planets fell to the persuasive call of Empire. The Imperial policies even safeguarded the nobility of all the worlds. First Citizens, Kings, Members of the People, Consuls, Mayors, indeed, the whole gamut of the rulers of the worlds, did not lose anything by union with Trantor. They merely gained new titles, in accordance with the territory they commanded. Duke, Prefect, Viceroy, were all accorded as new symbols of status to the rulers of the worlds.

The logic behind this was obvious to any who did not let pride cloud their vision: Why cause trouble to a world with leaders with no experience? The leaders that knew what they were doing, continued in their functions without further trouble. With a sense of ease, they let go of their striving for defence and conquests of neighbouring nations, which they no longer had to do, as they no longer had domestic squabbles. Every planet had its own detachment of the Navy, ready to help in any dispute. The Imperial navy furthered Trantor's benign hegemony of the system.

The Empire, at 2000 G.E., encompassed the whole galaxy, with natural exemptions of neutral territories and associated states and similar volumes. These accounted for approximately 5% of the volume of the Imperial domain. yet that left 95% percent of the galaxy for Trantor, de facto Empire, from the edges of the periphery to the warm glow of the myriad stars of the Core.

Trantor began now the long path to becoming a better administrator of the Empire. For this, she needed people. And people she had. by 2400 G.E., she held 10 billion, and was only able to do so by tunneling into her interior, by nuclear moles in most cases. All of her temperate regions were covered by domes. Trantor's feeding needs were seen to by two nearby agricultural worlds.

As time went by, Trantor became more and more urbanised, and tunneled further and further down, in some cases all the way to the mantle. She became more and more specialised. Dahl and Billibotton regions being specifically for tapping geothermal power, which Trantor now used almost exclusively instead of atomic generators. She increased urbanisation at a geometric rate. At the beginning of the tenth millenium, this tendency reached its ultimate. All of Trantor was covered by domes, in the final, contemptuous conquest of a world. Trantor's population numbered among 40 billions, all involved in the task of administering an Empire of a quadrillion human beings, and they found themselves all too few for the task. (The uninspired leadership of the later Emperors was a considerable factor in the fall). The produce of 20 agricultural worlds put food on the tables of Trantor. Imperial policy soon became merely the protection of Trantor's delicate jugular vein.